215/85R16 vs 205/85R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/85R16 | 205/85R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.4" | 29.7" | -2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 7.19" | 6.86" | -4.7 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 95.5" | 93.4" | -2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 664 | 679 | +2.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.19" | 14.86" | -8.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8" | 5.5–7.5" | overlap 6–7.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 7.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 215/85R16. Fit 205/85R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 90 mph | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,780 on the road, so it over-counts by 220. At a true 70 mph the first turns 774 times a minute, the second 792.
What drivers reported
215/85R16 carries 17 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 205/85R16.